For this post let’s assume the people involved are or were in the past friends, and ghosting is leaving someone on “read” for more than 2 days.

This doesn’t match how I’m used to seeing ghosting defined.

That behavior might be unfriendly, but there are a ton of innocuous reasons people do it. People are busy and not every message merits a prompt reply. If someone sends me something that requires more time or attention than I have at that moment like a video or news article, I’m likely to make a mental note to look at it later. I might actually remember, and then remember to send a reply about it. I might not.

It’s maybe a little rude not to respond to something more important or time-sensitive, but I can always ask again or use something more synchronous like a voice call. People are busy, life happens, tech can be unreliable. It’s best not to assume intentional disrespect.

My understanding of the term “ghosting” is permanent or long-term cessation of communication over all channels without explanation. That should be reserved for situations where someone is a physical danger or behaved in a manner so egregious they almost certainly know what they did.

I got to be good friends with someone I met at work and we gamed online when we could. We’d be playing a game, and he would always get so angry, raging at the game into the mic (I’m the only one listening, mind you), actually getting angry at a video game. I would find it amusing at first, but it became exhausting after a while, so I would find other games to play or just go invisible on Steam. He’d call me every so often, asking what’s up or if I was playing that night, but I’d find other things to do or say I wasn’t playing much anymore. I really hate lying to people.

It wasn’t until years later he started getting assault weapons, talking conservatively, and becoming toxic in general. I decided to ghost him because I felt I couldn’t trust him anymore. It’s really too bad, as he was a nice guy at first, but something changed in him and it gave me an icky feeling. I suppose it’s for the better, as I have no idea how he would have handled my transition.

It’s cowardly behavor that dehumanizes people.

Depends. Someone toxic that doesn’t respect boundaries? Absolutely. A good friend for no reason? No.

It’s immature. Just say you’re taking a break from messaging right now.

Double goes for dating. If you get ghosted by someone, probably a good thing, because they aren’t relationship material yet.

Assuming they’re simply friends;

2 days…not a big deal. You’re friends not partners. They have their own priorities and probably was in the middle of something when they read it and forgot. Bit crappy if they do it often, but thats how some people are.

2 weeks…if you texted them a few times, and know they’re alive via other means, than yeah something happended that lead to the ignore you. Could be something in their personal life changed, or its you.

2 months…try to connect via mutual friends, attempt to learn why they’re ghosting you

2 years…they’re not your friend anymore, leave them alone.

(Also turn off read receipts, that shit is toxic)

Well,

deleted by creator

ghosting is leaving someone on “read” for more than 2 days.

This is totally normal behavior. People are busy. Sometimes they read your message and say to themselves “I see this now, but I’m feeling stressed and busy right now - I’ll reply later when I can write a good response.” But then later happens, and it turns out they are tired and forgetful.

Especially if you are just trying to have a casual conversation - people will treat these messages as lower priority and also as requiring more emotional energy, since the conversation isn’t urgent but they don’t want to write dismissive one word responses.

I recommend:

1. Send texts primarily to exchange information or make arrangements to meet.
2. If you want to have a conversation, either meet in person or have a phone call.
3. If a person has failed to respond to a text, then wait until the next time you have some reason to contact them - which could be as simple as “I want to talk to them”. At which point, text them the info you need to give to them and/or pitch a time to meet up or have a phone call. If they don’t respond to this, I tend to follow up with a snarky “HellooOOOoooo”. And then if they don’t respond to that, a sincere message asking if they are okay. If they still don’t respond to that, depending on the friendship, I may either write them off, or ask mutual friends what is going on.

Since many have already answered to OP, I will ask another version of question similar to this.

What kind of ghosting is this when people only text you when you text them first? And when you don’t, the conversation never happens again?

Ghosting is a sign of a dishonest relationship. If someone ghosts you, recognize they had a deep issue and it had fuck-all to do with you. If you ghost someone unwarrantedly the opposite is true: you’re exhibiting cruel, sociopathic behavior, even if you feel bad about it.

Tell people things with your words. It is important to not leave people hanging. It does psychological damage and pretending it doesn’t makes you a sufferer.

Depends on how much time you knew someone. But I think generally it’s speaks better of a person not to ghost someone. I’d want someone to tell me, and it’s only right to do the same in kind for someone else.

It’s a de facto standard behaviour I’ve come to expect. I shrug my shoulders and move on.

In no way would I consider read for 2 days as ghosting

Eh. I get it. You don’t owe anyone an explanation. Unless you’ve been dating for like 8 months or something